Signs of the Times - September 2013 - (Page 62)

When the Cheering Starts Stadium signs create atmosphere that fuels the flames of fandom. By Steve Aust Mankind’s admiration for feats of skill,tostrength or speed transcends our history. According Wikipedia, entire English villages would compete in violence-ridden games of Shrovetide football (a precursor to rugby). And, at the Colosseum of Rome, everything from gladiator duels to chariot racing was celebrated with thunderous roars and lusty boos by patricians and plebeians alike. Widespread access to sports on TV and online has created a double-edged sword for sports-team owners. TVs large enough to command an entire wall’s surface, and smartphones that allow fans to conveniently follow games while walking the dog or shopping, persuade some fans to not attend. To create excitement necessary to put “butts in seats,” team officials have stepped up onsite signage to create fan experiences that wow team devotees – and, hopefully, cultivate a new generation of fans. From football-stadium signage to high-tech, indoorarena graphics, directing, informing and energizing sports fans has slowly shifted to more involved storytelling. These stadia convey how signs engage fans and create an emphatic home-field advantage. ■ 62 SIGNS OF THE TIMES / SEPTEMBER 2013 / www.signweb.com Your Blue Heaven In 1958, when the Dodgers pulled up stakes in Brooklyn and moved approximately 2,500 miles to Los Angeles, the team’s culture changed from being “Da Bums” and second fiddle to the Yankees (and, sometimes, even the third-best team in Gotham behind the Giants, who had yet to move to San Francisco), to having a commanding role in the L.A. sports scene. From Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale’s tenacity on the mound, to Kirk Gibson’s epic home-run blast in the 1988 World Series, to phenom Yasiel Puig’s explosive rookie season, the Dodgers have added immeasurably to baseball lore. Although it may not have the voluminous history of Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park, Dodger Stadium ranks among the pantheon of baseball shrines. A trip to the West Coast with my mother in the 1980s included a trip to Dodger Stadium. Although the “in by the third, out by the seventh [inning]” cliché about the team’s distracted fanbase was close to correct, the atmosphere at “Chavez Ravine” remains the most transcendent ballpark experience I’ve encountered. However, the team’s legacy had recently encountered a rough patch. Former owner Frank McCourt’s revolving door of team executives and managers, as well as a messy – and very public – divorce, and an embezzlement scandal with a team-affiliated charity run by a McCourt associate, tarnished the team’s on-field success and http://www.signweb.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signs of the Times - September 2013

Signs of the Times - September 2013
Contents
ST Update
Technology Update
Who Uses the Phone Book?
Vinyl Apps
Strictly Commercial
Lighting Techniques
The Moving Message
Technology Review - DGS 3D POP store system
Technology Review - KIP C7800 poster printer
Design Matters
New Products
When the Cheering Starts
Enter the ST Intl. Sign Contest!
Starting at the Bottom
LED Lamps for Box/Cabinet Signs
The Aria’s 260-ft. Pylon Sign
Industry News
Advertising index
Editorially speaking

Signs of the Times - September 2013